Key-fastener



'(No Model.) E. K. SUMERWELL.

KEY FASTENER. N0 304,763. Patented Sept. 9, 1884.

I V /I Nrrn STATES Fries.

A'IENT KEY-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,763, dated September 9, 1884.

Application lilcil March 10, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern- Be it known that I, EDWARD K. SUMER- WELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Oovington, Kenton county, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Fasteners, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved device which can be applied to the face of the lock dren and mislaid. Another advantage incident to my device is that it closes the key hole and acts as a preventive of prying and the injection of any somniferous substance.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my device, showing the key in position and locked. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the same when the slide is drawn out and the key unsecured. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken throughthe shield and escutcheon in a line with the key-hole. Fig. 4 is an end View of a modified form of the locking-slide, and Fig. 5 is an end view of the locking-slide which is represented in Figs. 1,

' 2, and 3.

A is the shield,which is fastened to the face of the lock or the frame of the door, or it may form an integral part of the face of the lock.

B is the escutcheon attached to the shield. The escutcheon and shield may be stamped out of one piece of metal or brazed together,

sufficient space being left between them to admit of the slide S working back and forth. This slide is made,preferably, of spring brass or steel, and has a slot, t, designed to embrace and firmly hold the shank of the key. In case the shank be round, it is notched, asseen in Fig. 1, so that when the slide is pushed forward it will engage with the notch and se; curely hold the key. The notch is not necessary where the shank is flat or square, as then its sides engage with the locking-slot and prevent turning.

It will be noticed that the slide shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and more plainly in Figs. 3 and 5, is provided with a slight curvature near the thun1b-piece,while the balance of the slide on each side of the key-hole is perfectly flat or straight. The object of this curvature is to impart a certain amount of elastic force at that point, so that the slide will bind or hug the back of the escutcheon in case an attempt is made to force it back from the outside, and throw it against the bearing or shoulder formed by the shield A, as seen more plainly in Fig. 3, thus defeating the object desired.

It is the heel of the slide, which bears against the shoulder of the shield A, and prevents the slide from bcingoperated from the outside.

In lieu of the before-mentioned curvature. the slide may be made perfectly straight throughout, and have attached to its surface near the thumb-piece a small spring, 8, as seen in Fig. 4. This will accomplish the same work, though as a measure of simplicity and economy I prefer the slide as first described.

Hare lugs or ears for limiting the backward throw of the 'slide,while the thumb-piece P performs the same function relative to the 7 forward throw.

It will be noticed that when the slide is thrown forward it covers thekey-hole, so that there is no possibility of observing from the outside what is occurring within the room. This closing of the key-hole also insures protection from that class of depredators who, through such openings,first manage. by means of certain drugs, to throw their victims into insensibility, if not worse, and then ply their nefarious calling with the chances in favor of their non-detection greatly increased.

\Vhen it is desired to lock the key, all that is necessary to be done is to push the slide forward, so that its slot will engage with the shank of the key. This will effect the desired result. In order to release the key, the slide is moved in the opposite direction.

It will be observed that the escutcheon is fastened to the shield in such a manner as to permit the slide'being inserted and worked from either side, in order that the device may be adapted toa right or left handed lock.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a'key-fastener, a shield, as A, with an esenteheon formed integral therewith, and to engage with the side of the shield and hold provided with slideways at its sides, formed it in looking position, substantially as deby striking up the metal to form the esscribed.

cuteheon, in combination with a slide adapted EDXVARD K. SUMERXVELL. 5 to engage with the shank of the key, said slide WVitnesses:

being provided with lugs Z, and formed of thin i JEPTHA GARRARD,

metal, and bent to form a shoulder or stop, h, 1 ALFRED L. ROLLWAGEN. 

